While I have recommended the hotel in conversations in the Arles Forum, I never reviewed it and feel compelled to after the negative review above. We have stayed in Arles 4 times since 2000 after reading about the hotel in Rick Steves, and we always return to this hotel. You can look at your room before taking it, and price of the room is always posted on the room door so you cannot be surprised. The hotel is steps from the roman ruins, the Saturday market and Van Gogh's hospital. In my reservation email this year, I forgot to mention that we were returning visitors, and the reply to me was "so nice to hear from you again" ! It is a beautiful building. The rooms are just lovely and clean, and have provencal character. We feel very welcome and add the lovely rooms and building, we say it is an excellent experience to stay here.

We had a large room in a great location! It was on a quiet, cute street that still was central and gave us easy access to everything we needed! It was the biggest room I have been in in Europe and it had, by far, the biggest bathroom of anyplace I have seen in Europe! It was clean, comfortable, and well-appointed! Everyone was SO nice on the staff. It was a great stay! I wish we could have stayed longer!

Having stayed in a very large impersonal hotel in Avignon for a few days, arriving at the family run Le Cloitre was a welcomed suprise. The hotel has been lovingly restored by the owners Jean Francois and Agnus and is superbly situated just a few minutes walk from the town centre, forum and ampitheatre.

On the day we were due to return home, my partner was taken ill suddenly and admitted to a local hospital. He remained there for five nights and our return to the UK was delayed by a week. During this difficult time, Jean Francois and Agnus provided me with the most incredible support. Agnus' excellent command of English (she is also fluent in German, Italian and Spanish) reassured me that no-matter the size/nature of my problem (and believe me I had many during this time), she would be able to help me.

When my partner was discharged from hospital, again nothing was too much trouble. When we finally left the hotel to return to the UK, we were waved off by the entire family.

Rooms are available in both the main hotel and the annexe. Due to our prolonged stay, we stayed in both parts. The rooms in the main building are larger but our room (Room 3) had a very small shower whereas our room in the annexe was a good size due to having three beds plus a good size bathroom and shower unit. The furnishings in the rooms are rustic and in keeping with the feel of the hotel which originally formed part of the Cloisters. There is no air-conditioning but the rooms have high ceilings and stone walls so have a very airy feel to them. The breakfasts are lovely with fresh baguettes delivered to the hotel door.

If you're looking for a central base, good value for money and a friendly set-up then look no further, Hotel Le Cloitre fits the bill.

If you love beauty and history, this is the hotel for you. It feels like you've traveled into the past. My room reminded me of a Vermeer painting. And while the interior of my room made me feel like a time traveler, it was also clean and the bed was very comfortable.

The hotel is very convenient to the historic sites you'll want to visit (down the same lane as the Roman theater and around the corner from the Roman arena).

The owners were very friendly and helpful. They obviously care about their hotel and about their guests' comfort. I had previously arranged to reserve a parking spot at the hotel and they parked my car for me. They also gave good advice about things to see and do in Arles which I appreciated. It is a bit of a challenge to initially drive to the hotel, but that would be true of any of the hotels in the central (historic) part of Arles.

I will definitely stay here again.